ENDANGERED SPE

CIES

OF T

HE

SO

UT

HE

AS

TE

RN

US

I GREW UP IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, I’VE GROWN ATTACHED TO THE OCEAN AND ALL SPECIES INHABITING IT. THE GREAT HAMMERHEAD IS VERY MAJESTIC AND HAS SHOWN A 90% DECLINE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. THEY ARE COMMONLY CAUGHT AS BYCATCH. ITS CURRENT STATUS IS ENDANGERED WORLDWIDE.

Sphyrna mokarran

AS A LIFELONG GAINESVILLE RESIDENT, I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE SANTA FE RIVER. THE SANTA FE CAVE CRAYFISH IS BEING NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY POLLUTION FROM MINING, GROUNDWATER ABSTRACTION, AND THE USE OF HERBICIDES AND PESTICIDES IN SURROUNDING AREAS.

Procambarus Erythrops

AN ENDANGERED SPECIES NATIVE TO THE SOUTHEASTERN REGION OF THE UNITED STATES IS THE SPOTTED TURTLE. OVER THE PAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, ITS POPULATION HAS DECREASED BY 50%. MUCH OF THE DECLINE HAS BEEN A RESULT OF HABITAT LOSS.

Clemmys guttata’s

CARS ON U.S. 1 ARE HITTING DEER KILLING ABOUT 30 TO 40 DEER A YEAR. THE DEER HAVE ALSO LOST THEIR FEAR OF HUMANS. THE KEY DEER PROTECTION ALLIANCE IS AN ORGANIZATION HELPING TO SAVE THE KEY DEER.

THE OKALOOSA DARTER IS A FISH FOUND IN FRESH WATER STREAMS IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA. THANKS TO LARGE HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS BY THE JACKSON GUARD OF EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, THE OKALOOSA DARTER’S POPULATION DECREASES HAVE SLOWED, AND THE FISH’S STATUS WAS CHANGED FROM “ENDANGERED” TO “THREATENED” IN 2011

Etheostoma okaloosae

THE FLORIDA SCRUB LIZARD, IS CURRENTLY LISTED AS “NEAR THREATENED,” ACCORDING TO THE RED LIST OF ENDANGERED SPECIES. I NAMED ONE MARTY, AND KEPT IT IN AN OLD AQUARIUM FOR ABOUT A WEEK, KEEPING IT AS A PET, AND STUDYING THE LIZARD.

Sceloporus Woodi

THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 2,500 OF THE CHEROKEE CLUBTAIL STILL IN EXISTENCE. THE NATURAL HABITAT OF THIS DRAGONFLY IS RIVERS, WHICH I LOVE TO STUDY

Gomphus consanguis

GOPHER WOOD IS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A  98% DECLINE IN MATURE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE LAST THREE GENERATIONS.

Torreya taxifolia

I CHOSE LEATHER BACK TURTLES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ENDANGERED SINCE 1986 AND ARE NOW CONSIDERED CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. VERY FEW LEATHERBACKS MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD DUE TO ITS HIGH PREDATION RATE AS YOUNG; THIS MAKES IT INCREASINGLY HARD TO PERVERSE THEM IN NUMBERS

I CHOSE THE FLORIDA PERFORATE REINDEER LICHEN (CLADONIA PERFORATA). I CHOSE THIS SPECIES FOR SPECIAL ATTENTION BECAUSE I HADN’T HEARD OF IT BEFORE THIS ASSIGNMENT. CONSERVING THE LICHEN IS IMPORTANT FOR FLORIDA’S ECOSYSTEM AND ITS RAPID DISAPPEARANCE WARRANTS ATTENTION.

Cladonia Perforata

THE PRIMARY REASON I CHOSE THE GREEN TURTLE OR CHELONIA MYDAS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE IT LABELED ENDANGERED.

Chelonia Mydas

THE FLORIDA PANTHER IS A MAJESTIC MAMMAL. DUE TO OVER HUNTING AND ILLEGAL POACHING, THE POPULATION OF PANTHERS IN THE STATE DWINDLED TO A SMALL HANDFUL IN THE 1970’S. NOW ESTIMATES FOR THE POPULATION ARE IN THE HUNDREDS, AND ITS THREATENED STATUS IS BEING EVALUATED.

THE WEST-INDIAN MANATEE HAS A POPULATION SIZE OF LESS THAN 2,500 AND IS EXPECTED TO DECLINE BY 20% OVER THE NEXT TWO GENERATIONS.

Trichechus manatus

FLORIDA TORREYA, IS A PLANT FOUND IN NORTHERN FLORIDA AND SOUTHERN GEORGIA ALONG THE APALACHICOLA RIVER.  THE HISTORY OF ITS DECLINE WAS FIRST OBSERVED IN 1938, AND BY 1962, NO ADULT INDIVIDUALS COULD BE FOUND IN THE WILD.

Torreya taxifolia

THE MAIN TWO ISSUES THAT HAVE LED TO THE DECLINE IN POPULATION OF THE AMERICAN CROCODILE ARE HABITAT LOSS, AND ILLEGAL POACHING (NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM). TOP PREDATORS PLAY A KEY ROLL IN KEEPING AN ECOSYSTEM HEALTHY AND RUNNING.

Crocodylus acutus

ACCORDING TO THE IUCN’S RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES, AMERICAN ALLIGATORS ARE ENDANGERED, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE LISTED AS A LOW RISK SPECIES

I CHOSE THE RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER AS A SPECIES THAT EXTRA EFFORT SHOULD BE EXPENDED ON PROTECTING. THE RCW CAN BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST, BUT ONLY MAKES ITS NEST IN OLD GROWTH LONG-LEAF PINE (PINUS PALUSTRIS)

Picoides borealis

STAGHORN CORAL CONSISTS OF 160 SPECIES AND REPRESENTS ONE-FIFTH OF THE EARTH’S CORAL. THEIR ROLE IS TO BUILD THE CORAL REEF SYSTEM AND PROTECT HABITATS FOR OTHER MARINE SPECIES FROM “HIGH ENERGY WAVES” (FAU). HOWEVER, THEIR POPULATION HAS REDUCED OVER 80 PERCENT IN THE PAST THIRTY YEARS (ACROPORA).

Acropora Cervicornis

SHARKS ARE AN APEX PREDATOR, AND THEY ARE SEEING PRESSURE TWO FOLD FROM HUMANS. AS WE FISH THE SEAS BARREN, THE SHARK’S FOOD SUPPLY IS COMPROMISED. THEY ARE ALSO BEING HUNTED FOR THEIR FINS. “FINNING” IS THE PRACTICE OF CUTTING THE FINS OFF THE SHARK AND THROWING IT BACK INTO THE OCEAN, TO DIE.

Sphyrna lewini

COMMONLY KNOW AS SCHAUS' OR ISLAND SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY IS ENDEMIC TO FLORIDA AND FOUND IN UNDISTURBED TROPICAL HARDWOOD HAMMOCK AND SURROUNDING SCRUB AREA. FIRST LISTED AS A FEDERAL THREATENED SPECIES IN 1976, IT WAS LISTED AS ENDANGERED IN 1984

Papilio-aristodemus

SOME FACTORS THAT ARE ATTRIBUTED TO THE RAPID DECLINE OF THE THE LOUISIANA PINE SNAKE ARE: INTENSIVE PINE SILVICULTURE AND ALTERATION OF PRE-EUROPEAN FIRE REGIMES.

MY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SINCE GRADE SCHOOL WAS FOCUSED ON OUR LOCAL ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM, THE ESTUARIES, MANGROVES, AND THE LAGOON, THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY CENTER AS I GREW OLDER I VOLUNTEERED AT ESC AND HAD A FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WATCHING A LOGGERHEAD TURTLE DIE BECAUSE OF HUMANS. EVER SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A SPECIAL INTEREST IN THEM.

FRANKLIN’S BUMBLE BEE IS CURRENTLY LISTED UNDER CRITICALLY ENDANGERED PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HUMAN IMPLICATIONS; PESTICIDES THAT CAUSE DISEASE, AND AGRICULTURE THAT CAUSES HABITAT LOSS (IUCN). IF WE DO NOT SAVE THIS SPECIES, OUR PRECIOUS NATURAL FOOD POLLINATORS WILL BE GONE FOREVER!

THE NASSAU GROUPER AND OTHER GROUPERS ARE EATING THE LIONFISH, WHICH IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE CARIBBEAN. THE GROUPER IS ONE OF THE ONLY POTENTIAL THREATS TO THIS INVASIVE SPECIES. THE GROUPER EATS THE LIONFISH’S EGGS, WHICH PREVENT IT FROM REPRODUCING.

Epinephelus striatus

SINCE EVEN EXPERTS ARE UNSURE OF THE STATUS OF THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER, I BELIEVE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT SPECIAL EFFORTS ARE MADE TO SAVE THE FEW IF ANY.

THE FOUR-PETAL PAWPAW IS NATIVE TO FLORIDA AND HAD BEEN ENDANGERED SINCE 1986. IT HAS BEEN BLOCKED FROM THE SUN BY OAKS AND PINES RESTRICTING ITS GROWTH. IT IS ALSO LOW IN NUMBER DUE TO COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

ELKHORN CORAL IS LISTED AS A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES. IT IS IN DECLINE FOR A MULTITUDE OF REASONS, INCLUDING CLIMATE CHANGE, HUMAN IMPACT, AND DISEASE. WHITE BAND DISEASE HASATTACKED ELKHORN CORAL SINCE THE 1980’S.

EVEN IN TECHNOLOGICALLY-ADVANCED COUNTRIES LIKE THE USA, HALF OF THE 100 MOST-PRESCRIBED DRUGS ORIGINATE FROM WILD SPECIES. AMPHIBIANS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE SEARCH FOR NEW MEDICINES AS IMPORTANT CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS CAN BE FOUND ON THE SKIN OF MANY FROGS

Mantella mylotympanum

ACCORDING TO IUCNREDLIST.ORG, THE HABITAT OF THE FLATTENED MUSK TURTLE IS CURRENTLY LIMITED TO “A SINGLE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN ALABAMA… FROM POLLUTION AND SEDIMENTATION FROM NEARBY OPEN COALMINING, AND IMPOUNDMENT OF STREAM SECTIONS.”

Sternotherus depressus,

I CHOSE THE GEORGIA OAK AS MY SPECIES THAT NEEDS SPECIAL ATTENTION, BECAUSE NATIVE TREE SPECIES ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE THREATENED. TREES PROVIDE HABITATS FOR MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, ALSO NATIVE TREES ARE MORE ADAPTED TO THEIR HABITATS.

Quercus Georgiana

GRAY BATS, LIKE MANY OTHER ENDANGERED ANIMAL SPECIES, ARE TAKING THE HARDEST HIT DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT. THEY ARE FOUND IN CAVES YEAR ROUND, WHICH MAY MAKE THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO HUMAN DISTURBANCE SUCH AS MAN MADE FLOODING AND PESTICIDES.

Myotis grisescens

THE DECLINE OF EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT, THEY LIVE IN LONG LEAF PINE FORESTS WHICH MANY HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND CONVERTED TO SLASH PINE OR OTHER LAND USAGE.

Drymarchon couperi

THE SPINY RIVER SNAIL IS OVERLOOKED TREMENDOUSLY, BUT IS VITAL TO THE ECOSYSTEM OF OUR RIVERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

Io fluvialis

THE KEMP RIDLEY SEA TURTLE HAS BEEN ENDANGERED SINCE 1986 AND IS CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED1. BOTH THE IXTOC1 RIG BLOWOUT AND THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY DESTRUCTIVE ON THIS SPECIES3.

Lepidochelys kempii

I CHOOSE THIS ANIMAL BECAUSE IT LIVES IN GEORGIA. I AM FROM ATLANTA, AND MUSSELS ARE A PART OF MY REGULAR DIET. THE DECLINE OF THIS ANIMAL IS SEVENTY-EIGHT PERCENT OVER THE LAST FOURTEEN YEARS.

Altamaha Arcmussel

THROUGH HUMAN DESTRUCTION OF ITS HABITAT, WE HAVE WIPED OUT NEARLY THE ENTIRE RED WOLF POPULATION. AS A RESULT, DEER POPULATIONS AND OTHER PREY SPECIES ARE NOT IN PROPORTION TO THE BALANCE OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

THE PASCAGOULA MAP TURTLE RANGE IS LIMITED TO THE PASCAGOULA RIVER SYSTEM OF MISSISSIPPI. SINCE 1950, THE POPULATION HAS DECLINED BY 80 TO 90%. THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO WATER POLLUTION THAT IMPACTED MOLLUSKS, THE TURTLE’S FOOD SOURCE.

Graptemys gibbonsi

Native Flora River Birch Florida

Buckeye

Climbing Aster

Florida Maple

Devil’s Walkingstick

I have seen three of these plants and will probably see more in my forest conservation class soon.

Native Fauna Florida Scrubs-JayEastern Indigo Snake

Whooping Crane

Florida Manatee Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

I have only seen the whooping crane out of these five animals.

Florida Manatee I chose this endangered species because many people are not aware of the “sea cow’s “endangered status. I did not know it was endangered and have not heard about many efforts to protect the animal till now. More Floridians need to be aware of these creatures when enjoying the waters of the state. Combinations of state and federal agencies have been proficient in reducing the loss of manatees. Andrew Aloise notes that Florida Manatee Refuge Officers and U.S Fish and Wildlife Service have created speed zones to avoid hitting the slow moving mammal. He also states that enforcement has not always been comprehensive, but has come very far in the last 20 years.